マダム・チェチーリア
In my review on Akasaka Kakizan, when I received the Demel Chocoladen Torte, I wrote that it is a truly moist and flavorful chocolate cake, reminiscent of the rich deliciousness of the cafes in the sweets capital Vienna. The price of ¥1080 for a whole cake seems like a steal considering the taste, but what stands out among the many chocolate cakes is the brand power. Brand power is not something that can be built overnight, and for me, memories of Vienna are encapsulated in the National Opera House where I watched Puccini's Tosca and the Sachertorte I had at the Hotel Sacher's cafe. Walking through the city, I realized that people truly love sweets. Brussels is the chocolate city, Paris is where you meet stylish Parisians nibbling on macarons, but Vienna truly feels like the "sweets capital". The emblem of the Habsburg family, who ruled the Holy Roman Empire, is the logo of Demel, a historic confectionery with over 230 years of history, still loved worldwide, including in Japan where there is Demel Japan. I recently visited the store on the 1st floor of Scramble Square in Shibuya, which is much closer than going to Matsuya in Ginza. The store was so small that I couldn't find the sales area, but I found my favorite Langue de Chat (Cat's Tongue) cookies and bought Hazelnut and Caramel flavors. The Sour Stick cookies were not on display, but when I asked, they brought out a box of 24 sticks for ¥1944. The cookie dough was crisp and light, with a subtle flavor, making room for the spices to shine. The Black Pepper flavor starts with butter and the pepper flavor follows, while the Pink Pepper flavor has an impactful start. The Sour Sticks are perfect with red wine. They come in three pepper flavors (Black, Pink, Green) and two cheese flavors (Emmental and Paprika Cheese). My favorites are Caraway Seed and Poppy Seed. While almonds are available in other brands, the pepper and spice flavors are unique to Demel. The stylish packaging makes it a great gift for wine lovers, easy to carry without worrying about temperature or ice packs. A perfect souvenir for wine lovers. Be sure to visit Demel next time!